A comprehensive plan has been chalked out to develop forest sector in the long tribal belt bordering Afghanistan for bringing back maximum land under forestry with the allocation of over Rs 03 billion.
Out of the total amount allocated for the project, Rs 934.867 million have been utilised so far while Rs 195.867 million are being spent during the current financial year said a media release issued here Wednesday.
Besides, Forest Department has planned a number of forestry schemes during 2005-06 with an allocation of Rs 173.904 million including raising of block plantation on 18486 acres of land, raising of forest nurseries on 74 acres and maintenance of block plantation over an area of 22832 acres.
According to the agency wise break up Khyber Agency, with an allocation of Rs 35.074 million, was followed by South Waziristan, Orakzai and Mohmand agencies with the allocation of Rs 26.534 million, Rs 22.956 and Rs 19.211 million respectively.
Main focus of the Forest Department is to halt ecological degradation through raising vegetative cover and sustainable management of the existing natural and man-made forests in FATA.
The strategy adopted for forest sector development includes rehabilitation of denuded hills through extensive forestation.
In Khyber Agency, barren hills of Landi Kotal would be brought under forests along with rehabilitation of denuded hills around Peshawar valley.
The release added that the approved cost of the project was Rs 44.569 million out of which Rs 7.5 million was spent during the last fiscal year while the allocation for 2005-06 was Rs 4.5 million.